Oregon State football: Riley says it will take a 'monumental' effort to upset No. 4 Stanford

It would have been bad manners to suggest to Oregon State coach Mike Riley the Beavers have no chance against No. 4 Stanford and quarterback Andrew Luck, but everyone in college football is thinking it.

“It’s going to take a monumental effort,’’ said Riley. And then some.

Stanford's Andrew Luck, the best quarterback in college football, torched OSU last season for 305 yards and four TDs in the Cardinal's 38-0 rout of the Beavers. He pays a visit to Reser on Saturday

OSU (2-6 overall, 2-3 Pac-12) is an early 21-point underdog against the Cardinal (8-0, 6-0), which owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games and is fresh off a thrilling 56-48 triple overtime win over then-No. 20 USC.

The Beavers are coming off a disheartening 27-8 loss at Utah in which they gave up 225 rushing yards and made Utah running back John White (35 carries, 205 yards) look like a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Stopping the run game Saturday looms almost as large as trying to stop Luck, the Heisman front-runner and likely No. 1 pick in the next NFL draft.

On paper, OSU figures to get run over.

Two weeks ago, Stanford steamrolled Washington 65-21 and set a school rushing record with 446 yards on the ground, not exactly an encouraging sign for Riley’s team, which has been gashed for more than 200 yards rushing in the Wisconsin, UCLA, BYU, and Utah games this season.

“They present problems, for sure, in that area,’’ said Riley, who couldn’t help but laugh out loud when asked if slowing Stanford would be difficult.

Among the bad things that happened to OSU in Utah Saturday: Markus Wheaton drops a touchdown pass in the first quarter

“We’re going to have to do a great job (to try and stop the Cardinal) and that’s probably understating it,’’ said Riley.

Virtually every statistical comparison is lopsided in Stanford’s favor, particularly at quarterback where Luck is matched up against OSU redshirt freshman Sean Mannion, but Riley said he savors the opportunity to pull off an upset that everybody in the country would be talking about on Saturday night.

“We’re going to give it everything,’’ he said. “Everybody, players and coaches, is disappointed in our last outing but I know this team and I know our coaching staff and I know we’ll have a great week of (preparation). … we’ll have a plan, and we’ll get our guys ready to go.’’

As for Luck, Riley says, “we know his talent as an athlete, as a passer, as a guy that is clutch.’’

Luck threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in Stanford’s 38-0 win last season on The Farm.

OSU had five turnovers in that game, three interceptions and two fumbles.

The score could have been worse.

“They beat us in every way last year,’’ admitted Riley.

Luck, however, does not have fond memories of Reser Stadium. In 2008, OSU out-muscled Stanford 38-28 as Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 189 yards and four touchdowns, overshadowing Cardinal star Toby Gerhart.

Luck struggled in that game, completing 12 of 30 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, but that was a younger version of a player who is now the most heralded quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning.

Three years later, Stanford is aiming for a national championship and the Beavers are trying to avoid their worst record since the 1996 team went 2-9, leading to Jerry Pettibone’s firing.

“We’re all accountable for (what happened at Utah). We’ll just try to get things amped up this week,’’ said Riley. “Everybody is a little down right now, and that’s natural and probably good. By the time we get to Tuesday, I think everybody will be ready to roll.’’Notes: Riley took some blistering on the message boards after TV cameras caught he and defensive coordinator Mark Banker laughing in the fourth quarter of the Utah game. Riley said he couldn't remember what prompted the exchange, but noted, "if we were laughing or smiling it was something ironic.'' ... Utah coach Kyle Whittingham seemed to question OSU’s defensive strategy when he wondered aloud why the Beavers didn’t “load the box’’ to stop the run. “I think if we would have tackled better it would have looked better,’’ said Riley. … after his best game of the season - 7 catches for 83 yards at Utah - James Rodgers has 206 career receptions and needs 15 more too break Mike Hass’ school record of 220. …punter Johnny Hekker set a single-game school record when he punted six times for a 52.5 average at Utah. Hekker put three punts inside the 20 and had punts of 50, 53, 64, and 58 yards in the game. … Mannion went over 200 yards passing for the seventh straight game at Utah. Only Sean Canfield (7 straight in 2009) and Derek Anderson (13 straight in 2003) have done that dating back to 2001. … Mannion, who threw three interceptions at Utah and was sacked six times, is No. 2 in the Pac-12 and tied for ninth nationally with just over 26 completions per game. … Riley was asked if he thought about putting QB Ryan Katz in the game. "I didn't,'' said Riley. "When Sean had time, he was making some really good throws.'' Josh Andrews, who has been out since the Wisconsin game because of injury, came in for right guard Burke Ellis Saturday night. Ellis came out after he took a knee to the back. … Markus Wheaton’s 3-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was his first touchdown of the season. … OSU’s fourth-quarter safety was the school’s first since Matt LaGrone and Keaton Kristick shared credit for one against Cincinnati in 2009. … scary stats department: No FBS team has thrown more interceptions (14) than OSU. … OSU ranks 118th nationally in penalty yards per game (72.50) … only five FBS teams have more turnovers than OSU, which ranks 113th with 21 (7 fumbles and 14 interceptions).